Law enforcement says many of the 32 deaths in 2023 were first-time users who didnโt know they were taking fentanyl.
ONROE, N.C. (WBTV) – A 166% increase in opioid deaths happened in Union County last year, with fentanyl being the main factor.
The Union County Sheriffโs Office wants families to be aware that many of the victims are not serious drug users, but rather first-time users who may not even know theyโre taking fentanyl.
According to the Union County Sheriffโs Office, 32 people died from opioid overdoses in 2023. Thatโs 166% higher than the previous year. Additionally, overdose calls were up 17% in the county at 170 in total.
Union County Sheriffโs Lt. James Maye said that itโs important for people, especially parents, to be aware of the hidden dangers of fentanyl. First, itโs incredibly potent.
โPowdered fentanyl, youโre talking about an amount less than the size of a penny could end a personโs life,โ Maye said.
Those taking fentanyl often arenโt even aware theyโve done so.
โItโs often not your longtime drug user,โ Maye said. โIt may be one of your teenagers, a local student. They may want to try something like Xanax or Adderall, but it could be fentanyl and they donโt even know it.โ
Nationwide backlog hinders investigations
Fentanylโs grip extends beyond Union County. In the state of North Carolina, the increase in cases has created a backlog in blood toxicology tests.
Most of these tests must be processed in Raleigh, often taking weeks, even months, to deliver results. This delay, Maye pointed out, significantly hampers investigations.
โWe donโt have blood toxicology results, which means a lot of times we canโt take that offender off the street, and that offenderโs free to harm other people potentially,โ he said.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Union County Sheriffโs Office is taking proactive measures.
Across the hall from their evidence room, a new crime lab is taking shape. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and trained personnel, the lab will soon be able to conduct its own toxicology tests, significantly reducing turnaround times.
โWe could have results in less than two weeks instead of a year,โ Maye said.
The lieutenant emphasized that sharing the grim statistics wasnโt meant to instill fear, but rather to raise awareness about the dangers lurking within seemingly harmless pills.
Maye urged the community to download the Union County Sheriffโs Office app and share any information related to opioid activity.
โFentanyl and opioids donโt just affect one class of people,โ Maye said. โThis can affect you and your family and we donโt want other parents in our community to have to find their loved one deceased way too soon.โ
Read the full article and watch the video on the WBTV3 website.